The coastal air is filled with the rhythm of drums and the laughter of young people as the Rakhine community kicks off their traditional water festival "Sangreng Poe."
Celebrating the arrival of the Rakhine Year 1388, the town has transformed into a lively stage of culture and purification.
The three-day water game, which officially began on Friday follows a week of spiritual rituals. According to tradition the festival traces back to 528 BC, originating from the custom of bathing Buddha statues with fragrant sandalwood water. On the day water is shared among the community to symbolize the washing away of the previous year's sorrows and failures.
In neighborhoods like Tekpara and Buddhist Temple Road colorful pandals are packed with young men and women in traditional costumes. As groups of young men process through the streets with musical instruments they are met with splashes of "auspicious water" from the women waiting at the pandals.
"This is a festival of our souls," said Mongra Thein Rakhine, a local participant. "We don't just play with water; we purify ourselves for a new beginning."
While rooted in Rakhine tradition, the event has become a symbol of non-communal harmony in Bangladesh. Local residents of all faiths and tourists have joined the festivities, sharing traditional pitha-puli and sweets.
Local authorities have tightened security across fifty pandals in Cox's Bazar, Teknaf, and Ramu to ensure the safety of all participants. "We want to keep our ancient culture alive," said Mongchen Hla Len, president of the Rakhine Buddhist Welfare Association. "There are no barriers here—only joy."
